1. Each question you pose and each comment you offer in response to those questions should be grounded in textual evidence. Most people on the outer circle earned full credit in the the last discussion because your ideas were vague and I was left wondering why you think what you do. Here is an example of what a good post looks like.
Here is a question from Katie F in my first hour:
In the book Ishmael constantly tries to block his thoughts by taking walks or occupying himself. "But my mind continued to torment me, and every effort to clear the terrible thoughts was in vain."(page-50) So do you think that the silence would have drove him insane if he stayed in the forest?
And here is a question from Nick F. in my first hour: I think that morals just fly out the window when you are struggling to survive because like in the book, the 6 kids stole the two ears of corn from the little boy because they were in dire need of food. Do you think that they could still live long without keeping their morals or do you have to be ruthless in order to live?
2. Remember to stay involved throughout the course of discussion. To offer one or 2 comments is insufficient as is having a 10 minute hiatus from discussion. If this is a problem for people again today, I will ask you to handwrite a 1 page typed response next fishbowl as well as the last one.
3. Thread discussion. At many points, it was challenging to follow your thinking because your posts were disorganized.
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ReplyDeletewhy do you think that jim?
ReplyDeleteI think ishmael is becoming desensitized to all the bad things happening around him
ReplyDeleteOn page 72, there is a quote from Ishmael saying, "I went into the river, dove into the water, and sat at the bottom, but my thoughts followed me." Is it possible to escape thoughts? Would it better Ishmael if he moved on from the thought of his family, and focused on the present?
ReplyDeleteI think that you can forget about thoughts, but its very hard too. In Ishmeals situation, its hard to forget about his thoughts because he is constantly reminded about them in his daily life no matter what he does to try and forget.
DeleteI think it would be better for Ishmael to move on away from the thoughts of his family, because it is only going to bring more pain. On page 71, Ishmael brings up how to bring these memories, it brings up painful memories as well. I think to let go of these memories will bring healing to Ishmael
DeleteI think it wouldn't be good for him to just forget about his family, but he should continue thinking about the present and what is happening now and not just about the past, but he shouldn't completely forget about his familt
DeleteI think it would be good for Ishmael to focus on surviving in the present. Thinking of his family just makes him depressed and less aware of his surroundings. He's thinking of what he could have done and this is just psyching himself out.
DeleteI don't think that it is possible to escape thought because in Chapter 10 page 72 at the end "... but my thoughts followed me." and I don't think it is a good idea for Ishmael to forget his family, and by thinking on about his family and that this keeps Ismael motivated to keep going on to find his family. Yet at the same time Ishmael should focus on the present by leading his pack to safety and avoiding the rebel.
DeleteDo you think that Ishmael should forget about his family so that he can emotionally heal? There is a moment in the book where Ishmael says that he would not speak of his family because it was too painful, yet he thinks about them very often. For example, he tells the story of his naming ceremony, resurfacing memories of his grandmother. Would it be beneficial for Ishmael to take the steps necessary to forget his family, and move on?
DeleteI think that in remembering his past Ishmael is able to allow happy thoughts into his life that drive him to keep going.
DeleteI think the though of Ishmael's family is the one thing that is keeping the bad thoughts from popping up in his mind. I don't think it is possible to escape thoughts totally but I do think that it is possible to escape the bad thoughts by revisiting the good memories and trying to look ahead into the present in a positive matter.
DeleteFamily is the most important thing, you cant give up on family. It is okay to feel pain and grieve, but you can never give up on them.
DeleteWhy do you think so Nick? Please elaborate
ReplyDeleteI think this because Ishmael is starting to find himself in the wild. He continously reflects back to his past when he is finding ways to eat, bathe and sleep comfortably. He knows that back in the village that people are being abused but he is only worried about himself and his family
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ReplyDeleteAt the very beginning of the chapter, Ishmael says that one of the scary things about his journey is that he wasn't sure if it would ever end. Do you think that he meant that like physically, or maybe that it wouldn't ever leave him? and adding on, do you think that it will ever leave him emotionally?
ReplyDeleteI think he means that on a more emotional level. I think he is gaining this fear that he will be stuck with what he is going through forever, and he will never be more of a person then he is right at this point in the book.
DeleteI think that he meant that he is wondering when he will ever have a normal life because he says that he feels like his life keeps starting over and that he has to keep moving. I think that he wants to know when he can start having a real life.
DeleteI think that Ishmael was talking about his journey both literally not ending and mentally. In his situation, he thinks that he may die as a child soldier. But like on page 19 when he has a flashback of himself killing people, you can tell that this "journey" will stay with him his entire life.
DeleteIf ishemal didnt have the cassests him and his group would have most likey been killed because like before they were accessed as spies for the rebels and these simple rap songs and dancing shows his innocents as well as for the rest of the group
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ReplyDelete"I nodded in agreement, but I knew that the chances of coming back to the village were slim, as we had no control over our future. We knew only how to survive." Why doesn't he have any faith in them making it back to the village? Do you think these thoughts are holding him back?
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DeleteI feel like so far in the book there has been a dark and depressing tone. Very few good things have happened since the beginning of the book and everything seems to have gotten worse.
ReplyDeletecan you give some examples of the depressing things?
DeleteThe beginning paragraph on page 49 seems very dark and hopeless. It feels like Ishmael is quickly losing hope.
DeleteAddie, I think that he needs to move on from the past, but at the same time I dont think that he should forget about the people that he loves. He needs to stop thinking about all the bad things and comfort himself with good memories
ReplyDeleteDo you think that the reason on why Ishmael stays busy is that he doesn't want to have time to sit down and think about his family and what he is missing?
ReplyDeleteI think that's a good point and it kind of relates to addie's post earlier, maybe this is ishmael's way of trying to escape from his thoughts
DeleteHow do you think ishmaels journey would have been different if they wouldnt have gone back to Mattru Jong so many times in the beggining
ReplyDeleteKeaton, I don't think all that Ishmeal has been through will ever leave him. It will always be a part of him but something that serious will not. Also, I think when he said it didn't feel like it would ever end, he was just worn physically.
ReplyDeleteWhich cause do you believe is the right cause? The rebels or the government?
ReplyDeleteOn page 88 Ishmael states "We, on the other hand, had to continue." What do you think motivates Ishmael to keep going instead of of just giving up?
ReplyDeleteI think Ishmael is motivated to find his brothers again and that is why he continues on
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DeleteI think Ishmael knows that if he ever gets caught, the consequences would be far worse than what they are going through now.
Deleteoops, I thought i replied on the wrong one, like I said before I deleted my post, I don't think his tone implies motivation, i think it is more like they had to keep going even if they didn't want to.
DeleteI am noticing that the more all the kids especially ishmael face there day to day trials in their journey that their sadness is decreasing and the more their anger is pivoting. Nick marshall is right, they are becoming desensitized, and they are becoming very angry about it. I am wondering, because we all know that he will become a soldier, will he come to enjoy it as it is his last resort to let out his anger?
ReplyDeleteI don't think he will ever enjoy it, I think it will help him in that case but I don't think it will ever be at the point of enjoyment
DeleteAdding on to Grant, do you think it was important that Ishmeal started the book off as depressing as he did now that we know how sad it is now that it is later in the book?
ReplyDeleteHow do you think the boys felt when they were invited hunting and to stay for the feast?
ReplyDeleteI think that the bird falling form the sky is a bad sign because it resembles death and that is what they want to stay away from.
ReplyDeleteBut this is food it can feed them just a little bit and a little can go a very long way
DeleteOn page 70, Ishmael says that every once in a while we were able to do something normal and that made us happy for a brief moment in order to lead up to some "normal" things they have done. Why is it so simple to view these experiences as normal when they still do not have a home? Has the violence these boys have experienced caused them to loose touch with what normal is?
ReplyDeleteI think that after all these boys have seen and been through, they will cling on and label anything "Normal" that has the slightest resemblance of the past that they once knew so well. I totally think that the violence does affect the way that they view normal things now. They are so far gone to having anything they would have consider normal in the past now.
Delete"why do they have naming ceremonies?"
ReplyDeleteWell I think because its tradition, I'm part native american and some tribes do have naming ceremonies Which show you what your personallity is Ishemal is like a happy, on going person who can make it though anything, Thats what the word ishemal means
There is a text to text connection between Saidu and Amir. They were both there when one of their loved ones was being raped. This type of thing brings up a lot of emotion in both of these books.
ReplyDeleteDo you think rape could be a symbol for something between these books blake?
DeleteI think its a symbol of guilt which is a large part of the kite runner, but im not sure what the symbol of it is in this book.
DeleteYeah I think that since we got to experience the emotions that a situation like this brings up in The Kite Runner it is easier, for me at least, to connect to Saidu and understand how an incident like this affects him.
DeleteIt is interesting that neither of them intervened. Saidu says on pg. 80, "To this day, I carry the pain that my sisters and parents felt." Amir also struggled with coming to terms with the fact that he did not prevent that Hassan was raped. It makes me think of when people say that they don't necessarily regret the actions they took, but more the actions they didn't take.
Delete"One afternoon,while we were searching for food in a deserted village, a crow fell out of the sky. Well now, if the falling of this bird is a sign of a curse or bad luck." Why do you think that they saw this as a curse?
ReplyDeleteThey saw it as a curse because of all the things that they had to deal with, all of them lost their families and they had to travel from place to place not knowing if they were all going to make it and not knowing who was going to make it
DeleteI think they saw this as a sign of death that was upon them.
DeleteI don't know why they thought of this as a curse because usually a crow is associated with bad luck. When the crow dies, they couldve looked at it as bad luck dying, just as the crow did.
Deleteon page 56 why do you think the old man didn't want to tell the boys his name?
ReplyDeleteHe didnt want to put them, or himself in danger.
DeleteAustin, I think that when the boys got invited hunting, and to stay for the feast they had a feeling of love from the people of that village.
ReplyDeleteOn page 70 Ishmael says, "Even though I am still alive, I feel like each time I accept death, part of me dies. Very soon I will completely die and all that will be left is my empty body walking with you. It will be quieter than I am."
ReplyDeleteWhat does he mean by, "It will be quieter than I am."?
Continuing on what blake said, he saw his family get raped and killed, do you think that part of ishmaels motivation is revenge?
ReplyDeleteyes. THey are all becoming angry.
DeleteBrendan, it could be because the man has bad history in his life that he doesn't want them to know about.
ReplyDeletedid ishmeal mean something more on page 65 when he said " a long way gone."?
ReplyDeleteI definitely do, I think he means things like, the innocence that they had in Mattru Jong is a long way gone, and the people that they used to be back in Mattru Jong are a long way gone. Also the obvious answer that they are physically far away too.
DeleteI think ishmael meant that there was no turning back, like he has no regrets and doesnt have any intentions on trying to change anything
DeleteI agree i think that the kids know that too. its interesting to me that they think as themselves as self reliant they are no longer children, or innocent. and they have accepted that.
DeleteI think that Ishmael feels like everyone and everything is against him. For example even when he was in the woods by himself he was attacked by pigs. I think that he is always scared about what will happen next.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Just like on page 55 you can see that he was scared of the boys that he ran across, until he realized that he knew then. It seems like he doesn't trust anybody.
DeleteI would agree with this. He says earlier in the chapter that he is never disappointed because he always expects the worst to happen. Do you think he will keep this attitude throughout the story?
DeleteI don't think so but because of his experience i think he his becoming angry at people.
DeleteRay H.. Do you think that "journey" could ever leave him or will it stay? Is it possible for him to forget? Please explain in detail.
ReplyDeleteAustin, you may not have seen it, but I said in my other comment that this journey will likely not leave him because on page 19, Ishmael has a flashback about his experiences as a child soldier many years later. So what I am trying to say is that this journey will stay with his for his entire life.
DeleteI think they will get separated I do think some will die to towns capturing them and killing them, while others die of food, water and sleep deportation, some, like ishemal, Will become boy soliders and die in fights or by the rebals
ReplyDeleteOn page 57 when they talk about the rumor of the "seven boy" it affects there progress of finding a place to seek refuge because everyone thinks they are bad. Do you think this will affect them after chapter 10?
ReplyDelete"My grandmother made fun of me...tricks other animals to get what he wants." Pg. 71
ReplyDeleteDo you think this story and nickname that Ishmael's grandmother gave him reflect who he is turning into, someone who does things for their own benefit?
Great point, that was a really good inference.
DeleteI think he is turning his nickname because he has to steel in order to survive at this point. He has to trick in order to achieve this.
DeleteI think all the stories that he talks about is him trying to stay close to who he is. He knows that being away from home can change him but he wants to remember who he used to be.
DeleteDo you think the boys would ever turn against each other if push came to shove and they were very desperate?
ReplyDeleteIt seems like Ishmeal fears everything now. For example, he was so scared by the waves of the ocean, it seems like fear is slowly tearing him apart emotionally.
ReplyDeleteI think differently than Trent, and don't think the story of the spider was told in an incredibly inappropriate time because perhaps it is just to say to them that no matter what the circumstance choose the right thing over hunger. I also don't think the boys were offended by this story because on page 75 Alhaji said "all this food is making me hungry." He did not say it with offence, but rather just as a joke about the details.
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